ÖSV team escapes the heat: Who is (not) flying to South America

Argentina and Chile

While smaller teams, Europa Cup and junior squads, in particular, have to look for alternative training options, Austria's athletes are, as planned, heading off to traditional and costly overseas training camps these days. A total of ten World Cup and Europa Cup teams are completing their snow training in the Andes. The destinations are Ushuaia in Argentina, and La Parva, Portillo, El Colorado, and Valle Nevado in Chile.

The speed men, led by Vincent Kriechmayr, are departing for Chile on Monday for nearly four weeks. The so-called "WC3" group, led by Marco Schwarz, is also setting up camp in Chile. Only the slalom group has not planned an overseas training camp and is hoping for better conditions again in Zermatt and Saas Fee; additionally, sessions in the Oslo ski hall are planned.

Among the women, the technical specialists around Julia Scheib have already departed for Argentina, while the speed specialists will set up their camp in Chile at the beginning of September, where Scheib & Co. will then also move.

Several Meters of New Snow

Unlike the European glaciers, there should be no shortage of snow in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is currently winter. In Chile, for instance, up to four meters of fresh snow have fallen in recent weeks.

"The overseas training camps are an indispensable part of our season preparation. Following the recent snowfalls, our teams in Chile and Argentina are currently finding very good training conditions. This enables us to implement the planned sessions at the highest level and simultaneously conduct valuable material tests under race conditions," explains ÖSV Alpine Director Christian Mitter.

Liensberger, Eichberger & Co.: How the injured are doing

Katharina Liensberger will not be traveling to South America.

According to the new ÖSV head coach Hannes Zöchling, her rehabilitation after a severe knee injury (fracture of the tibial head, meniscus, and medial ligament tear) suffered in January has "progressed solidly," but the Vorarlberg native plans to start skiing again only in mid to late September.

"At that point, we're not yet talking about gate training, but rather free skiing and technical skiing," explains Zöchling. Liensberger is to be slowly reintroduced to full strain.

When the 29-year-old will return to the World Cup is currently uncertain. "From today's perspective, that's very difficult to predict. It was a serious injury, so we first have to see how she reacts to the strain," Zöchling clarifies.

Magdalena Egger will also not travel overseas after her ACL tear in January. The Vorarlberg native will only return to skiing in Europe in September.

Ricarda Haaser, on the other hand, has boarded the plane. Following her tibial head fracture suffered in early March, the Tyrolean is fully on track with her comeback plan and will participate in the overseas training camp.

This also applies to Stefan Eichberger. The ÖSV speed hopeful recently completed his first turns on snow after his ACL tear in December and is preparing for his comeback in Chile alongside Vincent Kriechmayr and co.

Vincent Wieser is not yet ready for the long journey to South America after his hip surgery in spring. The speed specialist is expected to be back on skis in October.

Then the new World Cup season will also begin in Sölden.